Benefits of yoga based movement in your running training

As we begin to hit the silly season, I look to give you a few tips of how yoga based movement can benefit your running. Whether you’re running the marathon or just hitting the treadmill for a quick twenty minute HIIT session.

Having completed my first marathon this year it was the first time my training had consisted of that amount of endurance running. I use to do much more sprinting and quick bursts of speed endurance based workouts. But when I added yoga into my training I began to see the difference in how I felt before, during and after a running session. Going from feeling sluggish and forceful to light and fluid in my style of running.

Taking my own experience and knowledge as an athlete, PT, coach and yoga teacher, I’m going to share how yoga can benefit your running and some poses to try for yourself.

INJURY PREVENTION

No doubt if you are like me then the the worst case scenario building up to an event is injury. Not only does it put your race in jeopardy, but you lose all that time you’ve put into your training.

This was my first marathon and leading up to it I’ve noticed the adaptation my body is making to the training and running on the roads for long distances. I’ve also noticed how damaging it can be if you were to do such a long runs without a proper maintenance program on your body.

PERFORMANCE

Restriction in movement can cause a range of issues, change in biomechanics or imbalances can lead to over compensation in an area risking injury. Yoga style movement thrown into your training can help with balancing the body a relieving those restricted areas.

With my yoga practice, it’s had a significant effect on areas such as my hip flexors and glutes which has resulted in a bigger stride length, more efficient running style and thus requires less energy to move my legs. Muscles that were once fighting each other for range are now freer and perform much easier.

RECOVERY

Taking 10-15 minutes after your run could be the most valuable thing you do for your training. Not only being able to allow the muscles to recovery but to fully allow your parasympathetic nervous system to switch on and bring you back to a more relaxed state. Keeping the body in a stressed state allows our immune system to weaken, leaving us vulnerable to illness. So crucial in order to maintain a high level of training and performance not only in your running but day to day life.

As well as calming the body down, you allow the muscles to recover, flushing out toxins that are building up ready to make to sore (or sorer) the next day. The more I had been able to discipline myself into taking 10 minutes after each training session, the less I felt the next day. I am able to continue training the next day at a high level (obviously I advocate taking full recovery or taper runs too)

If you are looking to add more yoga based movement, breathwork even meditation into your training routine head over to www.thesportyogi.com

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